So, here we are at the stupid-ass Thursday night game part of the schedule. Goodell, in his search for more green, sanctioned a Thursday night game every week this season, to the detriment of the players, the coaches, and the overall wellness of the game, to squeeze out more TV and ad money. What used to be only 2 games on Thanksgiving weekend with Deetroit and Dallas hosting games has now become a logistical nightmare of ‘let’s cram 2 games into 5 days’ scenario. Players don’t get enough time off, coaches have a rough time installing a cogent game plan, and whatever team happens to be travelling has even less time to prepare for a game. Much like last year when the 49ers had to travel 3 time zones to play their Thursday night game in Baltimore, the 49ers had basicvally 2.5 days to prepare for that game. Back before last season started, the Niners were still the whipping boys of the league and were thus shit on with that scheduling. This year? The Niners get a home and home situation. Seattle is only flying down the coast, but even that time lost is precious.
Also, when Goodie Goodell talks about player safety being paramount, this completely flies in the face of that. As a football fan, hey it’s awesome. Extra games are always cool. But to chalk this up to nothing more than greed on the owners part is naive at best.
Anyhow, Seattle comes to town as one of the hardest teams to figure out in the league. They have lost to AZ and StL, and squeaked by Carol on the road, but have beaten Green Bay (huge assist to the non-scab refs), Dallas, and NE at home. Russell Wilson, erstwhile Matt Flynn killer, has put up some decent enough numbers for a rookie, but has led some impressive comebacks. Notably last week over New England. They run well enough, but could only muster 85 yards vs NE and 98 vs Carolina. Seattle’s team strength revolves around their defense. DE Chris Clemons has 5.5 sacks, and LB Bruce Irvin has 4.5 sacks to lead a Seattle team ranked 7th in the NFL in sacks with 17. Seattle is also 2nd in rushing yards allowed, and 4th in passing yards. The Niners numbers are confusing. They lead the league in least amount of yard given up through the air, and are solid against the run, but their losses were stories of little pressure, and a lot of underneath passing yards.
When it comes to the coaches (what’s your deal?), well, Harbaugh had held the advantage over Pete Carroll since their college days. One hopes that this trend continues. A Niner loss at home Thursday night wouldn’t be a fatal blow, but it would seriously hurt their chances to win the division outright. AZ, SF, and Sea are all at 4-2, and StL is 3-3. Sea already has 2 division losses, St L has 2 division wins. This will be the first division game for the Niners. We were all giving the Niners something like 4-2 at worst in these division games. But the time is now for this team to prove what it is made of. Losing at home to the Hawks would be a serious blow to the effort of this team this year, and would serve to put into question the direction of the team. The QB carousel last week should be put to rest. Cappy is obviously the future, but he is better served as strictly a read option guy down on the goal line. Anything more, as we saw, is only courting disaster.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
19-7. Fearlessly.
I like yer style RT. Gotcha.
Keep playing Kap in appropriate down and distance. Give him plays he can handle. He is the future and is also a part of the now.
1st and goal? Sure. 3rd and 6? No.
3rd and 10 or more?
or 4th and 15?
There are down and distance that Alex is not the best at, those are times I would switch Kap in for instance. Anything inside the 20 yd I think is up for grabs. Any 2nd or 3rd or 4th and long same thing, all of the above subject to many factors of course including the flow of the game. If Alex is the hot hand interfere as little as possible.
I’m not crazy about a 2 horse race, but if it helps win games do it. Kap had good success in 2 games and equally poor success in 1 for which I blame coaching for both Kap and Alex having poor performances with exception to 2 of the 3 picks Alex threw, they were just bad decisions, but I don’t think a knee jerk reaction is warranted, just an evaluation of how and when better to use Kap’s abilities not necessarily to restrict his opportunities. Having said all that I expect they will restrict him against the Squawks.
Flow of the game is the most important thing. The1st one on 3rd and 6 was stupid. 2nd and goal Yeah. Sure, 3rd and 12. 4th and forever. Or closing the half to get a big play.
Agreed.
Peyton has to sit for the UFO Coyotes this week, Chuck. I guess all that football and those 14 TD passes were wearing him out. I’d love to see the Niners smack the Broncs again in the Super Bowl, but they have to get there first. It could be a great matchup.
Yessir. Manning won’t last that long but WE just might
Well I guess it’s time to crawl out of my smacked down cave and make a prediction. 38-17, Niners. Oh wait, that was last week, and I missed it by that much! Some said the Niners might have been guilty of reading their own press clippings, and while that may or may not be true, I certainly was guilty of reading them.
I think we come back strong on D, run the ball more and the game is what some experts would say is NOT a thing of beauty. 16-9, Niners.
Lol nice barley. Yeah we all kinda blew that one except del mar who is now what?
4-20 over last 2 yeahs? Sumptin’ like that.
I think the niners will get this win, just look at how they have fared against the hawks in recent history and its obvious! They will tear this rookie up!! come by and read more about why and how to bet it here http://nfllatestnews.com/nfc-west-battle-for-first/
It will be a dog fight fer sure but yeah, we win by 4. Barley has us by 7; RT by 12, who you gonna call?
Before the night is over (7:30pm here rat naw) I will post the latest Scoring freakin’ update
Gentlemen the night is late so posting this naw: For you comatose zombies…
OK Scoring Challenge Niners vs Seahawks: Perish the thought Carrol walks off with a smirk on his face
Chuck: 23-16 Niners. I’m worried about this one. I really hope the offense gets untracked. 23-16 Niners.
Grumpy Guy: 24-21 Niners. This is now a huge game. Fall to 4-3 and the internet will burst into flame. It will be the End of Days around here. Seattle is a good team, but I think we’ll win this one. 24-21.
Phil: 24-20 Niners. The O is still trying to figure out ‘who they are’ = what they do that works consistently. But what to say about the D? Haralson is that big a loss? Or is it that and coaching? Where’s the pass rush?? Special teams? We stink, period. Fix it Seely
12th man: 21-14 Niners, Squawks will feel the wrath! (Phil: as well they should, MFs)
barleyfreak: 16-9 Niners. I think we come back strong on D, run the ball more and the game is what some experts would say is NOT a thing of beauty. 16-9, Niners.
RT: 19-7. Fearlessly. ( phil fan says: I like yer style RT. Gotcha. God I hope this man is right)
It will be a dog fight fer sure but yeah, we win by 4. Barley has us by 7; RT by 12, who you gonna call?
What really sucks is that the Niner game and the Giants game will both be on at the same time.
Timmy has to come through for the Giants.
The Niners? Well, everything has to get better. Strange thing is, the Niners had stuffed the Giants first 2 drives until the pick. Then, the tide changed in a hurry.
Go Giants!
That Giants game was too reminiscent of the Singletary play-well-early-don’t-score-and-get-walloped-late games he was so famous for.
This game could well determine the rest of the season. Lose badly, and you have to wonder if the Harbaugh mystique is losing its luster. Win big, and we’re back in the drivers seat.
Losing bad would throw into question the future of Alex Smith, and promote the idea of giving Cappy more time behind center.
This addresses the Offense only, starting field position is worse than last year, in our losses we lost the TO battle, the kicking game is off, the play calling is putting more emphasis on the pass from worse starting position on the field, Alex has new receivers and I think it takes him a long time to get comfortable throwing in tight coverage like he is willing to do to VD. Provided Alex doesn’t throw a bunch of picks I think he will be OK and better later in the year when him and the WR are on the same page.
Colin is a better athlete, bigger, faster runner and has a stronger arm and can really make all the throws. His downside is lack of experience. As of right now Alex is the better option to win games. I like that the coaches are inserting Colin into the game, getting experience and being largely successful with it. I didn’t like how they inserted him in the last game, but if it had worked I would be calling for more of the same, 20/20 is a sure thing.
If Alex plays badly tonight he is on thin ice, the dynamic changes, I think he will still remain the starter but legitimate questions will be asked. I don’t think that is going to happen though, he had his worst game in 2 years and I think its an aberration. On the season he has 2 good games (GB, DL), 1 bad game (MV), 1 so-so game (NJ), 1 stellar game (BB) and the steaming pile he dropped last week (NG) so on balance he is playing well enough to win more than lose as much as a QB has influence over wins and losses.
A big win tonight and all is well with Mr. Smith, a bad loss and beware the Ides of March Alex.
The failures last week were galling in that every aspect was terrible. The defense got no pressure and gave up way too many easy pass plays. Special teams was a disaster, even with the blocked FG thrown in there. Add the 2 picks in the 2nd half and you have a crap-ass game on all sides.
This isn’t the end, but I’d sure like to see crisper football, less penalties, much better ST coverage, and some mistake-free offense. We HAVE done it this year. Just snap back to what was working. Enough with the experimentation, coaches. back on the beam.
it will be much tighter all around tonight.
New thread is up.
GAME DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!